Despite Afe Babalola’s Withdrawal of Defamation Case, Dele Farotimi Still Battles Four Lawsuits Filed by Lawyers from His Firm Across Multiple States
Activist and lawyer Dele Farotimi has revealed that he is still battling four separate lawsuits filed by members of the Aare Afe Babalola law firm in different states, despite the withdrawal of a defamation case against him by legal luminary Aare Afe Babalola (SAN).
Farotimi disclosed this on Sunday, February 16, 2025, during the Toyin Falola Interviews. His legal troubles began after Babalola petitioned the Ekiti State police commissioner, accusing him of defamation in his book, Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System. This led to Farotimi’s arrest and arraignment in two courts in Ekiti.
Following the intervention of top traditional rulers, including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Babalola withdrew the criminal charges. However, Farotimi stated that members of Babalola’s law firm have continued to pursue four separate civil cases against him across different states.
“My inability to speak on certain aspects of this matter is because, despite the discontinuation of the criminal proceedings, I still have four active lawsuits in four different states, all filed by members of the same law office,” he said.
Addressing the controversy surrounding his book, Farotimi dismissed claims that it was based on hearsay, emphasizing that it is a well-researched work documenting his experiences and observations of Nigeria’s judicial system.
“This is not a trial of Dele Farotimi,” he insisted. “It is a trial of the legal system we have collectively built.”
The lawyer-activist reiterated that his book was written in pursuit of justice, not as an attack on any individual.
Follow News Review on Facebook and X
.){kind=link}